The Irvine Unified School District won top recognition as the best district in the state last month regarding standardized testing, according to a recent press release from the school district.
The ranking was based on results from last spring’s testing of students in grades 3 through 8 and those in 11th grade for science, mathematics, and English Language Arts and Literacy for districts of 35,000 or more students.
The recognition comes from the state’s student performance rating organization known as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. This marks the sixth consecutive year Irvine has been on top.
Walker said so-called student-centered learning is a key reason for the district’s continued success.
One way such is accomplished, according to a spokesperson for the district, is teachers narrow down which teaching methods work best for each student through a team approach called Professional Learning Communities.
“The [Professional Learning Communities] approach is helping our teachers better meet the needs of every child in the classroom,” district spokeswoman Annie Brown told The Epoch Times in an email.
In English Language Arts and Literacy, 76 percent of district students meet or exceed public school standards compared to 57 percent in Orange County and 47 percent statewide.
In math, 69 percent meet or exceed, compared to 45 percent in Orange County and 33 percent statewide.
The same held true in science, where 61 percent of the district met or exceeded standards compared to Orange County’s 40 percent and the state’s 29 percent.
The district said the strong showing was in part due to programs implemented in response to the pandemic, which, they say, provided additional academic and mental health support.
Such programs included summer school and free online tutoring, officials said.
Additionally, the district pointed to its designated relaxation rooms, known as Wellspaces—which focus on alternative methods to help students cope with daily stressors and have better focus. In this program, nature is incorporated into the interior design of the rooms combined with mindfulness activities such as journaling, aromatherapy, breathing exercises, and more. Wellspaces can be self-referred or recommended by a counselor, teacher, or friend.
Brown, the district spokesperson, said a balance between academics and students’ mental well-being is a priority.
“We also balance academics with mental health and wellness supports so that students are well-rounded, resilient, and resourceful learners, who are able to perform at their highest levels to meet their academic and personal goals,” she said.
